The George given a £1million makeover
An Iconic Georgian pub in Shipston has re-opened following an extensive five-month restoration.
More than £1million has been spent on the George Townhouse on High Street, and customers were given a first look at its transformation last Wednesday.
The owners of the George, Brakspear, bought the business in May last year and immediately set about restoring much of the building’s original heritage.
The Bar and The Pantry restaurant features reclaimed oak floors, open fireplaces, bright, contemporary colours and bold patterns teamed with quirky light fittings, interesting art works and curious bric-a-brac, reflecting the Georgian era.
All 15 guest bedrooms at the George have also been transformed by Brakspear’s in-house designer, Laura Morgan and feature graphic print wallpapers, king size beds, loop pile carpets, cast iron roll-top baths along with modern gadgets to make guests’ stay as comfortable as possible.
Richard Smith, manager at the George, said: “The reaction of customers has been one of shock and awe really, it’s been such an extensive project, I’m tempted to say it has been like a rebuild, we’ve done everything from scratch, refurbishing all 15 rooms and reconfiguring the downstairs area.
“There has been a lot of anticipation, it’s the biggest building on the road and a lot of people have been peeking through the windows over the past few months.
“I really love the large oak bar and the beautiful garden room with its by-fold doors is fantastic. The rooms also look spectacular now.
“Parts of the building are 300 years old and we’ve revealed some of the beautiful brickwork, drawing attention to it as a feature. This restoration has been very sympathetic to the building, and we’ve restored many of the original features.
“For those that have not taken a look yet, I would encourage them to drop in, have a bite to eat, chat to our friendly staff and enjoy a good beer.”
Brakspear’s retail director, Paul Gilchrist added: “Our vision for The George is to create a real connection and a sense of belonging within the community by being the heartbeat of Shipston-on-Stour.”
